WWE‘s Big E opens up about his decision to retire from in-ring competition.
Former WWE Champion Big E stepped away from in-ring competition after suffering a broken neck during a match in March 2022. He has since been making appearances as a co-host on the PLE kickoff/post-shows and on the RAW Recap podcast. While fans continued to expect he would return to the ring at some point down the line, he officially announced his retirement.
Speaking to Jon Alba on The Takedown on SI, Big E explained why he had to retire. He revealed that he made the decision almost immediately after breaking his neck. He also recalled the doctors advising him against getting back in the ring even if he got cleared.
“For me, especially when I first broke my neck, I really didn’t think a lot of it,” Big E said. “I wasn’t in pain, I wasn’t concussed at all, I didn’t have any real nerve issues. I was like, ‘Okay, we’ll heal up.’ And they told me initially, I think it was eight weeks being in a neck brace, and you should be good to go.
“My C1 was broken in two places, and oftentimes, when that happens, the C1 will heal like cartilage. So in those gaps, it’ll form cartilage instead of ossifying, instead of forming new bone,” Big E said. “So after talking to [Dr. Juan Uribe] and a few other doctors, the doctor almost damn near begged me like, ‘Hey, please, even if you get your all go, you’re clear, you’re allowed to get back in the ring, please really reconsider it.”
Big E says the doctors were relieved after he decided to step away
Speaking further, Big E shared that the doctors “literally breathed a sigh of relief” after he told them that he’s leaning towards retirement. He noted that seeing the hardships of many legends also played a significant role in his decision.
“And when I told him, ‘I think I’m definitely leaning towards being done,’ he almost quite literally breathed a sigh of relief. So for someone who’s been doing this for so long, who knows a lot more about spines and necks than I do, I definitely took heed.”
“You see so many of the veterans, the legends, around WrestleMania, oftentimes that’s when you see a lot of the guys you don’t see year-round. And man, it’s sobering. So many of them, who aren’t even that old, are struggling with pain. Clearly not very ambulatory. They’re, they’re using walkers to get around,” Big E said.
Read More: Big E Says WWE Could Settle El Grande Americano Feud With A Border War Match
